The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Before the morning court.

Emperor Hongzhi occasionally summoned cabinet ministers to Wenhua Hall to work an early shift.

Yan Chengjin wanted to take sick leave, but the eunuch who announced the decree said: His Majesty said there are important matters to discuss, and you are not allowed to be late.

Old ministers such as Liu Jian and Li Dongyang will certainly not be late, mainly Yan Chengjin.

In the eyes of Emperor Hongzhi, Yan Chengjin is still young. It is difficult for him to get up and enter the palace before dawn in such a cold day.

Putting down the new court report in his hand, Emperor Hongzhi sighed heavily: "The court report from the nine borders shows that nearly 80% of the military equipment is rusted."

When the war with Tatar started, the Ministry of Industry forged a large number of weapons.

After the Tatars destroyed the country, the military equipment was stored in the nine border arsenals, and a layer of red iron filings grew, which fell off at the touch.

Zhang Fuhua sighed: "I ordered people to count the treasury of the Beijing camp, and 60% of the military equipment is rusted."

Soldiers usually train and do not go into battle fully armed.

For example, armor and horse armor are not worn, but stored in the treasury as military preparations.

Yan Chengjin's eyes moved slightly, it seems that it is time to make steel.

Weapons and farm tools forged from steel are not only sharper, but also more wear-resistant.

Steel has many uses, such as building bridges and artillery, as well as muskets.

However, he did not know the forging process of steel.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Liu Jian: "It will take at least half a year to forge hundreds of thousands of weapons in the nine borders. The cabinet should select the Minister of Works as soon as possible to supervise this matter."

After Cao Yuan left, there was no important matter in the court.

The position of Minister of Works has always been vacant.

Jiang Mian said: "How about Hanyuan scholar Mao Ji? Mao Ji likes carving and is very familiar with fortification casting."

Yan Chengjin's heart moved slightly. The craftsmanship of Mao Gongshi in later generations came from this person.

Chengxian Street, Mao Mansion.

The courtyard is dotted with flowers and trees, and various stone carvings are placed on both sides of the path. They are exquisite and elegant, just like the garden scenery of a wealthy family.

Under the brown tea shed, Mao Ji holds a magnifying glass in his left hand and a carving knife in his right hand, carving blue and white stone.

"The magnifying glass made in Liangxiang is really fucking useful!"

The housekeeper ran over in a panic and said happily: "Master!"

"I finally have a day off, what are you yelling about?"

"The eunuch came to the palace and said that the master was promoted to the Minister of Works. It's a good thing."

"What a fart!"

His Majesty is going to supervise the construction of military preparations for the nine borders, and has just sent 100,000 Beijing troops to repair the embankment.

Where does the waste come from?

When Mao Ji was summoned to the palace, the morning court had not yet dispersed. He bowed slightly to thank Emperor Hongzhi for his imperial decree.

There was some silence in the hall, and all officials looked at Mao Ji with some pity, and he was about to take office.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "The weapons of the Nine Frontier Arsenals and the Beijing Camp Arsenal, Mr. Mao should speed up the production."

"Your Majesty, there is no war now, it will not be too late to supervise the production in one or two years. If they are stored in the arsenal, they will rust." Mao Ji said.

The eyes of the officials moved slightly, and they heard the deep meaning of Mao Ji: this job cannot be done.

The economy is in a slump, and there is not much silver in the treasury. Where can the silver come from to make so many weapons?

Zhang Fuhua said: "Although the Tatars have been recovered and the Nine Frontiers are temporarily peaceful, we must also store a certain amount of weapons for emergencies."

At least 30% must be made.

Ministry of Works, duty room.

Mao Ji ordered people to call the chief clerk and doctor of the Ministry of Works: "Your Majesty wants to supervise the production of weapons, but the treasury does not allocate silver. What do you think should be done?"

Everyone exchanged glances. How can they work without silver.

Even if the ore does not need silver, the craftsmen must eat, right?

Song Jing raised his head slightly: "Sir, why don't you go ask Sir Yan?"

The treasury of Liangxiang Yamen may have silver hidden in it, so he can borrow silver from Liangxiang.

Mao Ji understood Song Jing's intention. The court had borrowed silver from Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce twice, but it had not been repaid.

He came to the duty room of the Censorate with two exquisitely carved inkstones.

Zheng Qian walked in and reported: "Sir, Sir Mao is here."

You don't need to ask, you know, he is here to borrow money, Yan Chengjin didn't even raise his head: "No."

Mao Ji was waiting outside the duty room. When he heard Yan Chengjin say no, he felt ashamed and angry. Can't this guy give me a chance?

Isn't it just owed twice?

Why care about one more time!

"Zheng Qian, how did I treat you when you were in Hanyuan?"

In Hanyuan, from the lecturer to the bachelor, many officials were his students when they were in Hanyuan.

Zheng Qian bowed: "Master Mao treats me well, but I cannot disobey Master Yan's orders."

Mao Ji took out two exquisite inkstones from his sleeves and handed them to Zheng Qian, saying with a flick of his sleeves: "Please help me deliver them, and I won't lend you the money."

After a while, Yan Chengjin looked at the inkstones and continued to think about converter steelmaking.

The drawings filled the desk, recording the current methods of refining copper and iron in the Ming Dynasty.

The methods of quenching and forging are roughly the same, except for the added raw materials and processes.

Before leaving his post, Yan Chengjin ordered people to go back to the mansion to pull the carriage and went to Fangshan.

"Where are Song Jing and Xie Pi?"

Zhang Xian said: "There are no lectures in the School of Science these days, so neither of you came. However, Liangxiang has a great craftsman. What are you going to do?"

Yan Chengjin said: "Refine and forge."

Zhang Xian looked at it and had some doubts: "There are many iron smelting plants in the market, and I'm afraid I can't make money. Do you still want to refine?"

He didn't know what Yan Chengjin was thinking.

But there are many iron smelters in the world, casting millions of pounds of ironware every year, and some of them are worthless.

Yan Chengjin shook his head: "I want to make steel."

Zhang Xian was slightly stunned, staring at the drawing with wide eyes, which was clearly a large furnace.

The method of making steel has existed since the Warring States Period.

But the forging method is to hammer and forge a steel, which takes a long time, and it is impossible to use a furnace to refine it.

He mistakenly thought it was iron smelting.

Not long after, a young man in green clothes came up and bowed, saying: "Student Mao Qu, meet Lord Yan."

Zhang Xian smiled: "He is the leader among the new engineers. When it comes to forging, no one can match him except Brother Yixian and Brother Yi Chong."

Mao Qu bowed and said respectfully: "My father likes carving, and I have learned some skills. Lord Zhang is too kind."

Yan Chengjin said: "Then you will supervise the production. This drawing is not perfect yet. Try it one by one according to the drawing."

Even the most outstanding forging engineer cannot forge it.

It means that there is a big problem with the drawing.

Mao Mansion, after leaving duty.

Mao Ji walked back to the courtyard with his hands behind his back. Seeing the half-carved stone, he shouted, "Where is the young master? Works require ingenuity. How can we give up halfway?"

Carving is like being a person. You need to be careful and calm, and restrain your desires.

Where did this kid go to play again?

The housekeeper smiled and said, "The young master said he was going out to study for half a month, and asked you not to worry about him."

Mao Ji frowned, "So in a hurry? Where are you going!"

"This, this little one doesn't know. It was a message sent back from Hejian." The housekeeper said in embarrassment.

Hejian Prefecture?

Down from the capital is Hejian Prefecture. This is the only way to Jiangnan. Go to Jiangnan?

Mao Ji frowned slightly, "Qu'er has always been polite. How could he leave without saying goodbye? Where has he been these days?"

"I've been to Liangxiang several times."

Mao Ji was stunned.

Suddenly, I felt that something was wrong. What is Liangxiang? A gathering place for engineers, and all they talk about is science.

Suddenly, news of studying abroad came back again.

An ominous premonition gradually enveloped my heart.

"Hurry, hurry up and prepare the horse!"

Happy New Year! Sorry, I have something to do today, so I'm late.